Production costs are going up, so who pays? – Will it be the manufacturer, the grower, the retailer or the customer? Gardenforum chaired a debate of suppliers and retailers.
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Garden furniture sales up 12% in August

September 22 2016, by George BullivantM

Garden furniture sales helped garden centres to +4.4% in August, but giftware sales fall again according to the GCA.
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Latest results include Klondyke, Westland, Vitax, Grange & Kelkay

July 29 2016, by George BullivantM

2014/15 results published this month show profits fell at retailers such as Klondyke, Clifton Nurseries and Thompson Bros (Esher). Several suppliers, such as Kelkay, Keter (UK) MPB Garden Buildings and Vitax grew strongly.
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Keep calm and carry on

July 15 2016, by George BullivantM

During the GIMA Awards evening there was a presentation to Richard Bence, Garden Re-Leaf Day announced a huge increase in funds raised and there was Brexit advice from the GIMA president.
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EU grants an 18 month extension for glyphosate based products as the Health Commissioner expresses concern that that member states could not accept EU commission proposals.
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Brexit vote creates great uncertainty

June 24 2016, by George BullivantM

Brexit vote has created uncertainty about exchange rates and in the minds of consumers, even though nothing changes legally for 2 years.
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Challenging time for retailers despite online boost in May

June 8 2016, by George BullivantM

According BRC / KPMG retail sales lifted in May after 2 flat months, but they warned that it's still a challenging time for retailers.
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Cold weather holds back spring sales

May 24 2016, by George BullivantM

The strong start to May will have consigned the woes of April to history for many retailers. That will make reading of the April figures from the Garden Centre Association easier.
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Why didn’t someone ring me to sort it out?

April 15 2016, by George BullivantM

Who is holding back the business and who is getting it right. Derek Bunker of Altons Garden Centre tells suppliers at GIMA.
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Has TV publicity started a revival in houseplant sales?

April 4 2016, by George BullivantM

Garden centres are reporting several noticeable trends such as:- the strength of garden furniture sales and the revival of houseplants, but will the referendum hit sales?
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The National Living Wage comes into force

April 1 2016, by George BullivantM

The National Living Wage comes into force on April 1st. Garden centres differ on how they will recoup the extra costs.
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Parliament votes against changes to Sunday Trading regulations

March 9 2016, by George BullivantM

An alliance of Labour, Scottish Nationalists and 26 Tory rebels defeated Government proposals to devolve decisions on Sunday trading hours to local authorities.
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Sunday Trading debate likely to be controversial

March 2 2016, by George BullivantM

Sunday Trading is likely to be controversial with MP’s as it is debated in the House of Commons on March 8th and 9th, both for its substance and for the way the Government has added it to the Enterprise Bill.
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We’d have to comply with new EU regs even if the UK votes ‘No’

February 22 2016, by George BullivantM

If the UK leaves the EU, it would still have to comply with the new plant health regulations being introduced later this year, says MEP as she outlines the timetable for the new legislation.
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Can the EU survive as UK heads for a hard Brexit?

October 17 2016, by George BullivantM

The current status of the Euro is not sustainable and a hard Brexit has risks in the medium term says the Future Foundation.
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Innovation and trends at Glee

September 19 2016, by George BullivantM

Gardenforum highlights innovation and trends from a successful Glee.
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July sales continue a roller-coaster year

August 31 2016, by George BullivantM

The sales pattern in recent months shows how unpredictable garden retailing can be. The biggest garden centres were up 6% in July but this brings them just level for the year.
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Garden centre sales are slightly up at the half year

July 21 2016, by George BullivantM

After a strong start, June sales fell behind last year due to political distractions and the weather. But year-to-date they are up according to the latest figures from the GCA.
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Plant areas are scary places to visit

July 13 2016, by George BullivantM

The HTA Plant Retail conference was held at the spectacular Ball Colegrave Grounds in Oxfordshire. Trends for the future included urban gardening and why the smart phone is at the heart of change.
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Will prices rise with a volatile exchange rate?

July 7 2016, by George BullivantM

With the £ dropping to below $1.30 during yesterday’s Solex garden furniture trade show, Gardenforum asked suppliers how and when prices might be affected.
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Turn old stock into gold for Greenfingers

June 28 2016, by George BullivantM

Old stock donated by Scotts, Wyevale Nurseries and Wyevale Garden Centres has raised £2,300 at auction for Greenfingers. The charity is asking any company with unwanted stock to donate it to Turn Old into Gold.
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GIMA golfers raise thousands

June 10 2016, by George BullivantM

Glorious sunshine shone all day at the Telford Golf Resort where 20 teams of garden suppliers and retailers took a break from the season to play a round and raise funds for charity.
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May puts a bounce back in sales UPDATED

June 1 2016, by Peter DawsonM

Sales figures reveal May was a good month and helped put centres back on track for the first five months of the year. Some chains were up 25% in May.
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March sales were up 5.6% says GCA

April 22 2016, by George BullivantM

Official figures from the GCA show sales were better than expected in March. The South-East did least well. Scotland and Ireland fared best.
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Garden re-Leaf has already raised £57,000

April 5 2016, by George BullivantM

With £57,000 already pledged for Greenfingers, Garden Re-Leaf is on the way to raising £100,000. Here’s a round-up of events around the country.
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Scotland up, while the South is down - mostly

April 4 2016, by George BullivantM

The warm wet winter and cooler spring has produced a big variation in performances. But generally business at Scottish garden centres seems to be up while many (not all) Southern garden centres are behind last year, especially if sandbagged against flooding.
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Can garden centre restaurants continue to grow?

March 10 2016, by George BullivantM

This is one of the questions discussed in the latest fact sheet issued by Malcolm Scott Consultants. It also gives the example of Fairways GC which has permission to be built in Green Belt near Coventry.
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Tillington tops £200m

March 2 2016, by George BullivantM

The Tillington Group that pools the buying power of some of the country’s top garden centres has broken into the £200m turnover band.
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Restaurants and gifts kept tills ringing in January

February 23 2016, by George BullivantM

Restaurants and gifts kept tills ringing in January as the dull, wet January delayed the purchase of plants, seeds and bulbs. But it was not an even picture across the country.
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Date:

Sun 18th Feb 2018

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